Since to those who vomit with difficulty many disagreeable consequences
are apt to happen, it will be proper to explain by what methods one
may be made to vomit readily; for this operation evacuates phlegm and
lightens the head, and prevents a person who may have eaten immoderately
from suffering indigestion, and one who has taken too much wine from
being hurt thereby. Let the substances which are taken be neither sour
nor dry, but part of a sweetish and liquid nature, and part acrid. Among
these the radish is deserving of praise, and also the rocket, and old
pickle, green marjoram, and a small quantity of onion and leek. Vomiting
is likewise promoted by ptisans of pulse containing some honey; by soup
of bruised beans and the fat of flesh; but one must not only take the
juice, but swallow whole lumps of it; and one must not spend much time
upon mastication; but these things ought to be soft from boiling. It is
clear, also, that it is the sweetish kinds of wine which ought to be
preferred, for such are aptest to swim upon the stomach; and tepid drink
ought to be used. It is proper also to eat almonds dipped in honey, also
sweet cakes, and the moistened seed of the pompion and cucumber pounded
with honey. The root likewise of the cucumber rubbed with honey has
some effect. Those who wish to use more powerful medicines, mix some
wine with a decoction of the bulb of the narcissus. Vomiting is also
produced by the ointment of iris, if one will smear one’s fingers in it
and tickle one’s throat. It is also to be attended to in vomiting not to
intermit after vomiting is once begun; and to bathe the face and wash the
mouth with sour wine or water, for this is beneficial to the teeth, and
relieves the head.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. This Section is abridged from Oribasius. (Med. Collect. viii,
21.) The opinions of Galen, Diocles, and Archigenes, on this subject,
may likewise be learned from Oribasius. Galen recommends vomiting for
collections of yellow bile, and when the stomach is loaded with viscid
matters, but forbids it when the stomach is weak. The opinions of
Celsus are very similar: “Vomitus ut in secunda quoque valetudine sæpe
necessarius biliosis est, sic etiam in iis morbis quos bilis concitavit.
Vomitus utilior est hieme quam æstate; nam tum est pituitæ plus, et
capitis gravitas major subest. Inutilis est gracilibus et imbecillum
stomachum habentibus: utilis est plenis et biliosis omnibus si vel nimium
se replerunt, vel parum concoxerunt.” The directions given by Celsus for
producing vomiting are very simple: “Qui vomere post cibum volet, si ex
facili facit, aquam tantum tepidam antè debet assumere: si difficiliùs,
aquæ, vel salis, vel mellis paulum adjicere. At qui mane vomiturus est,
antè bibere mulsum, vel hyssopum, aut esse radiculam debet, deinde aquam
tepidam (ut supra scriptum est) bibere.” Galen commends the bulb of the
narcissus as an emetic. He forbids those who have contracted chests to
take emetics frequently. (De Purgantibus Medicinis.)
Aëtius gives an interesting account of this subject in an extract from
the works of Ruffus. He forbids vomiting when the eyes are affected, or
when hæmoptysis is apprehended. He commends it for the cure of arthritic
diseases, dropsy, and jaundice. One of his simplest emetics consists of
the decoction of radishes, with the strained infusion of dried figs. He
mentions the oil of privet as a most effectual emetic. (iii, 19.)
Avicenna’s information on this subject is very ample; but, upon the
whole, his directions are mostly the same as our author’s. He properly
states that the too frequent repetition of emetics hurts the stomach, is
prejudicial to the chest, the sight, the teeth, in chronic pains of the
head, unless arising from sympathy with the stomach: and in epilepsy,
when the cause of it is seated in the head, (i, 4.) According to Avicenna
and Averrhoes, the proper season for emetics is the summer. (Cant. I. 1.)
Rhases says that much vomiting hurts the liver, breast, eyes, and lungs,
occasioning hæmoptysis. He directs the person to bind a compress on the
forehead before taking an emetic; and to wash the mouth and face with
hydromel after its operation. He adds that persons who have long necks,
prominent chests, and who are lean, ought to abstain altogether from
emetics. (Ad Mansor. iv, 16.)
Haly Abbas forbids emetics in chronic complaints of the head and chest,
especially if the person be threatened with phthisis. He says that the
repetition of them weakens the stomach, and may induce hæmoptysis.
(Pract. i, 12, 13.) Alsaharavius delivers exactly the same detail of the
cases in which emetics prove hurtful or beneficial. (Theor. x, 2.)
Serapion gives a full account of these gentle emetics. (De Antidotis, c.
36.)
On the simpler methods which the ancients had recourse to in order to
produce vomiting, see Prosper Alpinus. (Med. Meth. iii, 10.)
We would here remark that the predilection of the ancients for vomits has
appeared very extraordinary to some of our modern writers on dietetics,
the more especially as it was supposed that the ancients made use of
violent emetics, as for example, the white hellebore, in such cases. It
is certain, however, that the ancients were acquainted with gentler means
of unloading the stomach on ordinary occasions, and that they seldom
made use of such medicines as the hellebore, except in cases of disease;
and, as we shall see afterwards, were well aware of the danger of giving
strong emetics unseasonably.